Witness for the Persecution

Finally, after nigh on 2,000 years, Judas Iscariot has retained adequate legal representation. It's a big day in Purgatory, as agnostic lawyer Fabiana Aziza Cunningham has forced a retrial to determine if Judas is as guilty as the Bible makes him out to be. But Cunningham has an ulterior motive (what lawyer doesn't) in bringing this case to court. She's trying to prove that God is not all-merciful and therefore cannot exist. And she's got a pretty good witness list assembled: Judas' mom, Mother Teresa, Mary Magdalene and St. Peter himself all come forward to discuss the idea of mercy for the villain. There's even a surprise witness — his initials are J.C. — who has first-hand knowledge of Judas' alleged crime. Stephen Adly Guirgis' The Last Days of Judas Iscariot is a raw and raucous romp through the dark corners of faith and catechism. The University of Missouri-St. Louis Theatre Department presents The Last Days of Judas Iscariot at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday (October 15 through 24) at the Touhill Performing Arts Center on the UMSL campus (One University Drive at Natural Bridge Road; 314-516-4949 or www.touhill.org). Tickets are $10.
Wednesdays-Saturdays. Starts: Oct. 15. Continues through Oct. 24, 2009